user interface

user interface

The point at which a user or a user department or organization interacts with a computer system.

The part of an interactive computer program that sends messages to and receives instructions from a terminal user.

user interface

(UI) The aspects of a computer system or program which can be
seen (or heard or otherwise perceived) by the human user, and
the commands and mechanisms the user uses to control its
operation and input data.

A graphical user interface emphasises the use of pictures
for output and a pointing device such as a mouse for input
and control whereas a command line interface requires the
user to type textual commands and input at a keyboard and
produces a single stream of text as output.

user interface

The way a person interacts with a computer, tablet, smartphone or other electronic device. The user interface (UI) comprises the screen menus and icons, keyboard shortcuts, mouse and gesture movements, command language and online help, as well as physical buttons, dials and levers. Also included are the physical components, such as the mouse, keyboard, touchscreen, remote and game controllers.

The Bar Was Set Low The user interface is the most important, yet least-understood area in the computer industry. Every application has only a handful of basic functions that users need all the time, yet they are often buried in arcane submenus that must be memorized. Worse yet, once bad examples are set by major vendors, others follow like sheep. Since popular applications are often hard to learn, users have come to expect that using software has to be difficult, when in fact, it could be downright simple if educated designers were involved. One shining light is the smartphone. Its small screen tends to force designers to think about usability more than ever, but sadly not all do (see good user interface).

Users Are Reluctant to Change Because of the steep learning curves people have to endure, many are disinclined to change applications. While the software industry constantly touts "productivity gains" for every new product, the lost hours figuring out how to do something, combined with the gun-shy reluctance to actually try a different product that might really be an improvement often impede productivity.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive Voice and natural language input and verbal output are increasingly standard components of the user interface, and they can be an enormous help. However, recognizing human speech and delivering the proper action is a daunting computational task. Sometimes the results people get are fraught with errors and downright laughable. Nevertheless, improvements are expected every year in this arena (see virtual assistant). See RTFM, user experience, naming fiascos, Freedman's law, flat design, Web rage, HCI and HMI.

It Can Change World History

Nothing highlights the importance of a user interface better than the 2000 U.S. presidential election when the Florida recount kept the country in limbo for weeks. The confusing punch card ballot used in Palm Beach County caused thousands of voters to vote for Buchanan (red arrow) rather than Al Gore.

Give Us A Break!

Our dazzling HDTVs do not prevent dopey button naming. This family's salvation was to attach labels on their remote control to clarify the buttons.

Read the Manual (RTFM)

Was there a contest for how ridiculous one could name the folders (on the right) in this camera's memory card? Something wrong with Still, Movie, Audio, and Email?

Keep the Elevator Door Open

The big red button that catches your eye in this building elevator is for an exceedingly rare emergency. Wouldn't "Big Red" be better as a "Door Open" button? People always scramble to stop the door from closing on someone.

A Century of Experience Didn't Help

With a combined 99 years of audio experience, Alan Freedman, author of this encyclopedia (right) and his colleague Pete Hermsen, who built a radio at age eight, struggled in vain to balance the speakers on Freedman's new receiver. The manual was worthless (see RTFM).

No Kidding

After changing a password on a website, this user-friendly message appeared. Translated: "we don't have a clue how our software got you here!"

It Was 2013. Or Was It?

Billions spent on development over decades, and users still get obtuse Windows messages in the 21st century. However, now and then, Microsoft has led the pack with really superior designs (see good user interface).

I Thought My Phone Was a Note II

OK, once in a while you need the model number, but why not identify the device by its common name too?

Really?

This popped up on an old Android phone. Why didn't it just say 4,741 days and 16 hours and make it easy to update our calendar!!!

Da Fup What??

How about this popping up on your Android phone. Doesn't every user know this means a Device Association Framework Universal Plug and Play provider is trying to connect? Of course. See Device Association Framework.

OK. Bad Formula. But Where?

This spreadsheet opens with an error message. Although it explains the category of problem, it never states which cells are in error, and there could be hundreds of formulas in a spreadsheet. In other words "we know where you goofed but we're not gonna tell ya." This kind of error treatment is par for the course in this industry.

Even Worse for the Technician

The primary menus for these integrated developer environments (IDEs), which programmers use to write, compile and debug applications, are all different. In this example, the File, Edit, Windows and Help menus (the same on almost all software) were stripped out to highlight the differences. Developers switching platforms have to learn the software all over again.

Remotes Are No Exception

Remote control interfaces are all over the place, and the volume and channel buttons can be anywhere (red arrows point to Volume Up).

Really?

Not a high-tech example... just priceless. These "informative" instructions were on a popular charcoal grill sold in 2015.

It appears that the trend is just taking a reprieve and that the future for user interfaces will be to add graphics to the text, to maintain clarity while doing it, and to do all this without leaving the context of the browser, because this is where most users are happy spending the bulk of their time.

Perhaps a day will come when our business user interfaces will look like "Everquest" or "Duke Nukem," but that day does not seem to be anywhere near.

BARCELONA, Spain -- Trolltech(R), the company that makes software faster to build and easier to use, today announced the Qtopia(R) 4 Series, including robust application platforms and user interfaces that will support the use of Linux on a wide variety of consumer devices.

With Trolltech's Qtopia we get to market faster and we benefit from being able to make unique user interfaces for all of our clients -- strengthening their brands and our market position," said Jason Sun, CEO, Cellon.

Flash technology can help LG Electronics to further differentiate its products, in a market where engaging user interfaces and compelling content are just as important to consumers as the industrial design of the products themselves.

LG Electronics will be using Flash to generate interactive graphic user interfaces and Flash applications on a range of digital devices, including MP3 players and mobile handsets.

As a result, Amino delivers a platform to support full Internet browsing, advanced Web-based user interfaces, and applications combining video and graphics.

Its industry-leading support for the W3C Web standards and its remarkable performance make Opera an attractive choice for better browsing and advanced user interfaces on Amino's AmiNET110 and our upcoming next generation set-top boxes.

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